The button and blinds

A dealer button marks the nominal dealer position and moves one seat clockwise after every hand. The two players to its left post the small blind and big blind, creating action before cards are dealt.

Two hole cards

Each player receives two cards face down. These are your private hole cards. Protect them and do not reveal them while the hand is live.

Preflop action

The first betting round begins with the player to the left of the big blind. Players may fold, call the current bet, or raise. Action continues clockwise until all remaining players have matched the final wager.

The flop

The dealer places three community cards face up in the center. A new betting round begins with the first active player to the left of the button. Players may check when no bet has been made, or bet, call, raise, and fold as the action develops.

The turn and river

A fourth community card—the turn—is dealt, followed by another betting round. Then the fifth and final community card—the river—is dealt, followed by the final betting round.

The showdown

If two or more players remain after the final betting round, hands are tabled and the best five-card hand wins the pot. You may use both, one, or none of your hole cards. Cards speak for themselves, and the dealer will read the winning hand.

Hand rankings, highest to lowest

1. Royal flush
2. Straight flush
3. Four of a kind
4. Full house
5. Flush
6. Straight
7. Three of a kind
8. Two pair
9. One pair
10. High card

Your options in one sentence

Check when no bet is facing you, bet to create a wager, call to match a wager, raise to increase it, or fold to give up the hand. Follow the dealer, act in turn, and the flow will become natural quickly.

Check the event details

Before arriving, review the start time, buy-in, starting stack, blind levels, late-registration period, and whether re-entry or add-ons are available. Tournament formats vary, so the individual event listing is the final word.

Bring valid identification

Amarillo Social Club is an 18+ members club. Bring a valid ID and allow enough time to complete membership and registration before the event begins.

Registration and seating

After registering, you will receive a table and seat assignment. Give that information to the dealer when you arrive. Your tournament chips have no cash value and must remain on the table throughout play.

The clock keeps moving

Tournaments use timed blind levels. Blinds and antes increase as the event progresses, so stack sizes become shorter relative to the cost of each round. The tournament clock continues even if you step away from the table.

Follow the action

Keep your cards visible, act in turn, and clearly announce bets or raises. Larger denomination chips should remain visible. If a ruling is needed, stop the action and call the floor rather than debating the hand at the table.

Breaks and table changes

Scheduled breaks will be announced. Return before play resumes. As the field gets smaller, tables may be balanced or broken; staff will provide a new seat assignment when needed.

When you are all-in

Follow the dealer’s direction and table your cards when required. If you lose all your chips and no re-entry is available, your tournament is over. Leave the table graciously and return your seat card if staff requests it.

Focus on the experience

You do not need to know every advanced strategy concept. Pay attention, protect your hand, ask questions when appropriate, and enjoy the structure. Every experienced tournament player once played a first live event.

Join the list before taking a seat

Check in with the club or join the available list before sitting down. When your seat is ready, staff will direct you to the correct table and explain the buy-in range and any game-specific procedures.

Protect your hand

Your cards are your responsibility. Keep them on the table, in clear view, and close enough that they cannot be mistaken for a folded hand. A chip placed gently on top of your cards is a common way to protect them without hiding them.

Act in turn

Watch the action and wait until it reaches you. Acting early can reveal information and affect another player’s decision. If you are unsure whether it is your turn, ask the dealer.

Make your action clear

Verbal declarations may be binding. Say “call,” “raise,” or the full amount before moving chips when clarity matters. Avoid string betting—placing out part of a raise and then reaching back for more chips without first announcing the raise.

Keep chips visible and countable

Keep higher-denomination chips easy for the table to see. Neat stacks help opponents estimate your stack and keep the game moving. Do not remove chips from the table during play.

One player to a hand

Do not discuss strategy, reveal folded cards, or react in a way that gives information while a hand is still live. Phones and headphones should never slow the action or be used for assistance during a hand.

Show respect at showdown

Table your cards clearly when showing a hand and let the dealer read the winner. Cards speak for themselves. Win without gloating, lose without blaming the dealer or another player, and keep comments about another player’s decisions friendly.

When in doubt, ask

Dealers and floor staff are there to help. Asking a quick question is always better than guessing. Protect your hand, act in turn, and treat the room with respect—you will be comfortable in no time.

WSOP Circuit action rolls through August

The official WSOP schedule lists a busy run of domestic and international Circuit events. Harrah’s Cherokee opens August 6 and runs through August 17, followed by Harrah’s Atlantic City from August 13–24 and Horseshoe Tunica from August 20–31.

Atlantic City’s schedule includes a $1,700 Main Event with a $600,000 guarantee, alongside a Mini Main, Monster Stack, Big O, Pot-Limit Omaha, Ladies Event and High Roller. Players can review the full Atlantic City event schedule on WSOP.com.

The month closes with two more major starts on August 26: the WSOP Super Circuit Canada at Playground and the WSOP Circuit at Hard Rock Tulsa. Playground’s first Super Circuit stop is especially notable, with WSOP announcing a CAD $5,000 Main Event carrying a CAD $10 million guarantee.

WPT prepares for Cambodia and Cyprus

The World Poker Tour has two championship events arriving almost back-to-back. WPT Cambodia runs a festival from August 12–24, highlighted by the August 20–24 Passport to the World Championship. The championship has a $1,300 buy-in and a $500,000 guarantee.

The WPT Cyprus Championship follows August 19–24 at Chamada Prestige Hotel & Spa. Its $3,500 championship event is scheduled with a $2 million guarantee.

September brings major U.S. and international stops

WPT returns to the United States for the bestbet Scramble Championship in Jacksonville from September 4–9. The $5,000 championship carries a $1 million guarantee.

Australia follows later in the month, with WPT Prime Australia and the WPT Australia Championship at The Star Sydney. The official WPT event schedule lists the Prime championship in mid-September and the $5,000 Main Tour championship beginning September 23.

A new chapter after the WSOP Main Event

The 2026 WSOP Main Event finale concludes August 5 after a field of 9,208 players produced a final table with $10 million awaiting the champion. Once the winner is crowned, attention quickly shifts from Las Vegas to the regional and international tours that keep tournament poker moving year-round.

Schedules, guarantees and structures can change. Always confirm the latest details with the official tour and host venue before making travel plans.